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From July 12th to 27th the town of Rethymnon in Crete will come to life in celebration of a unique period of history. The Renaissance Festival was created in 1987 as a way for Cretans to reconnect with an era that rejuvenated the island both culturally and spiritually, and the event is still going strong over two decades later.

Although inspired by the renaissance, the festival is really a celebration of all aspects of Cretan culture. As a result events range from theatrical plays and musical performances to exhibitions, dance performances and film projections. Musicians from around the world flock to the festival to perform pieces ranging from the medieval to the modern, and everything in between. But the activities aren't confined to indoors. The whole of Rethymnon is decorated to resemble a medieval Venetian township, and the cobbled streets of the Old Town are the venue for numerous street theatre performances of the traditional Comedia del Arte. As you wander through the narrow passageways, don't be surprised if you see a knight on horseback, a wandering musician or even a brightly coloured harlequin.

The main venue for the festival is the mighty Venetian fortress that dominates the headland on the western side of the town. Originally built in the 16th century to protect Crete as part of Venice's Aegean Empire, it now houses a spectacular array of theatrical performances. Plays from local Cretan playwrights are performed alongside works by Shakespeare, Goldoni and Moliere. Rethymno itself actually dates back to before the Renaissance, and the town was originally founded by the Minoans. Since then, it has been ruled by both the Venetians and the Turks and this rich cultural heritage has left a legacy of architectural wonders, such as the Neratze mosque, the Great Gate and the Rimondi square. The town itself overlooks a beautiful beach next to the harbour so there's no reason why you can't combine festivities with a dip in the beautiful Mediterranean waters.

For the Cretans, life is a celebration and you can guarantee that any festival is accompanied by the island's world famous food and drink. Flythomascook organises flights to Crete from a number of UK destinations, and if you arrive at the town a few days you early you may also be able to catch the annual wine festival.